Fluid amplifier



July 22, 1969 R. c. MOTT FLUID AMPLIFIER Filed Jan. 26. 1986 OUTPUT PRESSURE OPERATED .m. V E m V E D CONTROL MEANS PRESSURE SOURCE INVENTOR. RICHARD C. MOTT ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,456,666 FLUID AMPLIFIER Richard C. Mott, Harwood Heights, Ill., assignor to Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 523,072 Int. Cl. F15c 1/08, 1/04 US. Cl. 13781.5 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A direct input fluid amplifier that establishes a radial flow pattern by directing a free stream of fluid against a stationary stream deflecting member. Modulation of the output is obtained by holding the flow pattern position stationary on the flow axis while varying the radial magnitude of the flow pattern to change the amount of fluid collected by an output receiver.

The invention herein described relates generally to fluid amplifiers and more specifically to fluid impact-type amplifiers that obtain amplification through control of a radial flow pattern created by impingement of a stream of fluid with a solid surface or another like stream of fluid.

In presently known impact-type fluid amplifiers, the radial flow pattern is created by the impingement of two directly-opposed fluid streams. Upon impingement, the two streams flare radially outward to form a flow pattern of finite dimensions, generally having the shape of two dishes joined face to face. Amplification is obtained by applying a small signal to vary the pressure, direction, momentum, etc. of either input stream, causing the entire radial flow pattern to move forth or back along its axis. In controlling the axial position of the radial flow pattern, the amplifier output can be proportionally modulated in accordance with the input signal, for example by providing a collecting chamber in and out of which the radial flow pattern can be moved.

The present invention makes use of such a radial flow pattern, but obtains modulation by increasing and decreasing the radial magnitude rather than moving the entire pattern in and out of a collecting chamber. The radial flow pattern itself is created by a simpler method of directing an input fluid stream against a solid surface, the stream being deflected radially outward. The obvious advantage in this method is the requirement of one rather than two input streams. Accordingly, less fluid is needed in creating the radial flow pattern, and the intricate alignment of two input flow streams is eliminated. In addition, as mentioned above, the present invention requires only a change in the radial dimension of the flow pattern rather than axial movement of the entire flow pattern.

The advantages and features of the invention in their entirety can be fully realized through a reading of the description set forth below. Reference is also made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an illustration of the invention used in a pneumatic system;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of a receiver means;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of a stream deflecting means, a radial flow pattern and a receiving means with a control channel closed;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of a stream deflecting means, a radial flow pattern and a receiving means with a control channel open;

FIGURE 5 is an alternative stream deflecting means shown isometrically;

FIGURE 6 is an end view of a single stream deflecting means coupled with four receiver means and four cohtrol channels.

In FIGURE 1 a fluid inlet means is represented by a conventional pipe 1. Fluid is supplied to the inlet means 1 by a pressure source 11. A stream deflecting means, shown generally at 2, has a solid cylindrical cross section that tapers to a sharp point 3 to facilitate creation of a radial flow pattern. Point 3 extends a short distance into the pipe 1. At the base of tapered deflecting surface 4 is a peripheral edge 5 that is nearly perpendicular to the line of input flow. The stream deflecting means 2 is positioned in the line of input flow such that the stream will be deflected equally in all directions.

Located within stream deflecting means 2 is control channel 6. It runs lengthwise with the deflecting means 2, opening at one end on the tapered surface 4 at port 7 and at the other end on the side of deflecting means 2 at port 8. Port 8 can be progressively closed and opened by control device 12, which can be a suitable type of valve. Receiver means 9, shown also in FIGURE 2, is a pipe or tube 9' narrowing to slit 10 at the receiving end. Receiver means 9 can be coupled with a desired pressure operated output means as shown generally at 14. The tapered receiving end 10' of receiver means 9 is substantially perpendicular to the line of input flow and is positioned in fixed relation to control channel 6, as will be explained below.

In operation, fluid is supplied to the inlet means by pressure source 11, issuing therefrom as a laminar flow stream. It is initially assumed that control channel 6 is closed by the control device 12. The flow stream impinges the tapered deflecting surface 4 and is deflected outward radially and perpendicularly with respect to the line of input flow, creating a sharp circular flow pattern with a finite radial magnitude as shown by numeral 13 in FIG- URE 3.

The receiver means 9, which is positioned within the outermost portion of the radial flow pattern 13, captures a part of the flow pattern through the slit 10 and guides it to the pressure operated output means 14.

If the control channel 6 is now opened -by control device 12, some fluid is forced out of control port 7 because of the centrifugal or inertial force that holds the flow stream to the face of the tapered surface 4. The fluid that is exhausted out of control channel 6 takes away from the radial flow, causing part of the radial flow pattern 13 to recede as shown by numeral 15 in FIGURE 4. Accordingly, receiver means 9 is unable to capture as much of the radial flow pattern 13, and the output pressure is appreciably reduced. If the control device 12 causes only a portion of the port 8 to be closed, a portion of the radial flow pattern 13 is restored, and the output pressure is proportionally increased.

Although the preferred embodiment generates a circular radial flow pattern that is substantially perpendicular to the line of input flow, it is to be understood that controllable flow patterns of different shapes and flowing in difierent directions are obtainable, and I do not wish to be limited to the configuration shown. An alternative embodiment of the stream deflector is shown in FIGURE 5, wherein deflecting means 2' has two tapered surfaces 4e, 4 that deflect the input flow stream outward in two directions. Two control channels 6e, 6f, may be used with such an embodiment.

Although but one control channel and corresponding receiver means are shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 it is to be understood that any practical number may be included. Since each control channel and corresponding receiver means constitute a single fluid amplifier when coupled with a single inlet and deflecting means, it is easily seen that a configuration utilizing a plurality of such control channels and receiving means permits a high concentration of fluid amplifiers in a relatively small area. FIGURE 6 shows such a configuration, wherein a single stream defleeting means 2 is coupled with four control channels 661, 6b, 6c, 6d and four corresponding receiver means 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, thereby giving rise to four fluid amplifiers within the single unit.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, I wish to be limited in the scope of my invention solely by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fluid amplifier including: inlet means providing a free stream of fluid to be controlled, said stream of fluid having a predetermined flow axis; stream deflecting surface means positioned opposite said inlet means and shaped to deflect said free stream of fluid outward and away from said stream deflecting means into an open region to establish a flared flow pattern, said flow pattern having a stationary position on said flow axis and having a variable magnitude with respect to said flow axis; receiver means extending into said flow pattern to collect a part of said flow pattern and provide a modulated output flow; and pressure differential control means for varying the magnitude of said flow pattern with respect to said flow axis, thereby varying the amount of fluid collected by said receiver means.

.2. The fluid amplifier defined in claim 1 wherein said stream deflecting means comprises a cylindrical member that tapers axisymmetrically to a point.

3. The fluid amplifier defined in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a channel located within said stream deflecting means, said channel opening at one end on the deflecting surface of said stream deflecting means, and opening at its other end at a point remote from said first end.

4. The fluid amplifier defined in claim 1 wherein the receiver means comprises a tube that tapers to a slit-like opening at the receiving end.

5. The fluid amplifier defined in claim 1 wherein there is included a plurality of said control means and a corresponding plurality of said receiver means.

6. The fluid amplifier defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet means comprises a length of tubing; said stream deflecting means comprises a cylindrical member that tapers axisymmetrically to a point; said receiver means comprises a tube that narrows to a slit-like opening at the receiving end; and said pressure differential control means comprises a channel located within said cylindrical member and extends lengthwise therewith, said channel opening at one end on the tapered deflecting surface of said cylindrical member, and opening at the other end on the side of said cylindrical member.

7. The fluid amplifier defined in claim 6 wherein there is included a plurality of said control channels and a corresponding plurality of said receiving tubes. ,8. The fluid amplifier defined in claim 1 wherein said stream deflecting means comprises a cylindrical member that tapers to an edge symmetrically about a plane that is parallel to said cylindrical member and passes through one of its diameters.

9. The fluid amplifier defined in claim 8 wherein there is included a plurality of said control means and a corresponding plurality of said receiving means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,122,165 2/1964 Horton 137-815 3,171,422 3/1965 Evans 137-815 3,233,622 2/1966 Boothe 137-815 3,234,955 2/1966 Auger 137-815 3,246,863 4/1966 Posingies 137-815 X 3,272,215 9/1966 Bjornsen et a1 137-815 3,294,103 12/1966 BOWIBS 137-815 3,323,532 6/1967 Campagnuolo 137-815 SAMUEL SCOTT, Primary Examiner 

